Free Electronic And Computer Recycling

Computer recycling is at the top of your list when you buy and new one, right? You do not toss your electronics in the garbage, do you? Do you realize most of the materials in your computer are toxic and that throwing them away will have environmental consequences for years to come? Fortunately, there are a lot of free or cheap ways to dispose of your e-waste in a responsible manner.

Below you’ll find free computer recycling center options for you to dispose of your cell phone, computer monitor or other devices in a way that will not hurt the environment or other people.

Based on E-Waste Facts and Figures, 20 to 50 million metric tons of e-waste are disposed of worldwide each and every year. Yet only 13.6% of those disposed of items are recycled. The rest goes into landfills or ends up in third-world countries where people (some of which are children) strip the hard metals and other toxic materials down for money. Computers, music players, and other electronic gear contain toxic metals such as chromium, nickel, and zinc. Batteries contain nickel and cadmium and LCD monitors can even contain mercury.

Computer Recycling Stats

Staples Computer Recycling

If you have a Staples office supply store near you, you can take your old Dell products in and they will recycle them for free. This computer recycling center will also recycle smaller devices like PDAs and cell phones for free–no matter who the manufacturer is. But if the computer is not a Dell product, then Staples will charge you $10 to recycle it. The items are bagged, sealed, and then recycled by Eco International. In addition to electronics, you can even drop off any ink cartridge and get $2 back in Staples Rewards.

EPA Computer Recycling Resources

You can also refer to the EPA website for tips and services they recommend donating or recycling your electronics.

If you do not have a Staples in your area, we encourage you to find a responsible service or way to recycle your electronic waste. If you have a tip for finding a computer recycling center for PCs or other electronic devices, be sure to let us know.